If you adore the delightful combination of bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon but want to elevate it in a playful and elegant way, the Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe is your new best friend in the kitchen. This recipe transforms familiar flavors into bite-sized, flaky puff pastries sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, filled with a tangy, herby cream cheese blend, and crowned with luscious smoked salmon. These cream puffs are not only stunning for entertaining but also bring a flavorful punch that will keep everyone asking for more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of simple but essential ingredients to make this dish truly shine. Each element plays a crucial role in creating the perfect harmony of flavors, textures, and colors that make these cream puffs irresistible.
- Puff pastry sheet: Provides a light, flaky base that crisps up beautifully in the oven.
- Flour (for dusting): Helps prevent sticking when rolling out the pastry.
- Everything bagel seasoning: Adds a memorable savory crunch and delightful aroma.
- Cream cheese: The creamy, tangy filling that balances the smoky salmon perfectly.
- Lemon juice: Brightens up the cream cheese with a fresh citrus zing.
- Lemon zest: Adds an extra layer of lemon flavor, both in the filling and as garnish.
- Salt and black pepper: Simple seasoning to enhance all the flavors.
- Fresh dill sprigs: Infuses the filling with a fragrant herbal note and decorates the final presentation.
- Egg and heavy whipping cream: Combined to create an egg wash that ensures the pastry bakes to a golden brown.
- Smoked salmon: The star ingredient surrounding the cream cheese, adding a rich, smoky taste.
- Capers (optional): Provide a salty burst that complements the salmon beautifully.
How to Make Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures your puff pastry bakes evenly and releases easily once golden and crisp.
Step 2: Rest the Puff Pastry
If you’re using refrigerated puff pastry, let it warm up for about 5 minutes at room temperature to make it pliable. Frozen puff pastry will need around 30 minutes to thaw. This step makes rolling out easier without tearing the delicate dough.
Step 3: Roll and Cut the Pastry
Lightly dust your cutting board with flour and unfold the puff pastry sheet. Roll it gently into a 10 by 12-inch rectangle, just enough to even out the thickness. Using a 2½-inch cookie cutter, cut twelve to fifteen circles from the dough. Then, take a smaller 1½-inch cutter to lightly score a half-inch border around each circle’s edge, creating a subtle frame without cutting through the pastry.
Step 4: Apply Egg Wash and Seasoning
Whisk together one large egg with a tablespoon of heavy cream until smooth. Place your pastry circles on the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart. Carefully brush the outside borders with the egg wash, then sprinkle about half a teaspoon of everything bagel seasoning on each. This seasoning is what makes these puffs truly sing with flavor.
Step 5: Bake the Pastry Circles
Bake the pastry in your preheated oven for 14 to 15 minutes, or until they turn a gorgeous golden brown. When out of the oven, use the round end of a teaspoon to gently press the center of each puff, creating a small well ready to hold your luscious filling.
Step 6: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
While the puffs bake, combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and fresh dill in a small food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, around 30 to 60 seconds. This filling is what brings the bright, fresh flavor that contrasts so beautifully with the smoky salmon.
Step 7: Fill the Puffs
Transfer the cream cheese mixture into a plastic zip-top bag and snip off one corner—this makes piping a breeze. Pipe approximately one tablespoon of filling into the well of each cooled puff pastry circle, making sure the filling stays inside the border.
Step 8: Add the Smoked Salmon and Garnishes
Slice your smoked salmon into half-inch strips and carefully fold or ruffle each piece to look like delicate ribbons. Gently press the salmon pieces into the cream cheese so they drape around the edges. Finish with a few capers, a small fresh dill sprig, and an extra sprinkle of lemon zest for that gorgeous pop of color and flavor.
How to Serve Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh dill sprigs and extra lemon zest make perfect garnishes for these cream puffs. They not only add a pretty touch but also reinforce the fresh, citrus-herbal notes that brighten the smoked salmon and cream cheese combination. Capers add a sublime salty pop if you like that extra tang.
Side Dishes
Serve these cream puffs alongside a crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette or a chilled cucumber salad topped with fresh dill. Both sides complement the richness of the puffs and keep the meal feeling light and fresh. Sparkling water with lemon or a chilled white wine also pairs beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, arrange your Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe on a decorative platter with edible flowers or lemon twists for a wow factor. You can also serve them on individual mini plates with a small fork and a wedge of lemon for an elegant appetizer experience that feels special yet effortless.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover cream puffs should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and are best eaten within 24 hours to enjoy maximum freshness, as the pastry can lose its crispness over time once filled.
Freezing
You can freeze the baked, unfilled puff pastry circles in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to one month. When ready to use, thaw and then bake as directed before adding the cream cheese filling and toppings to maintain the perfect texture.
Reheating
To reheat leftover puffs, warm them gently in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 to 7 minutes to refresh the pastry’s flakiness before filling. Avoid microwaving, which makes puff pastry soggy and unappetizing.
FAQs
Can I make the cream cheese filling ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the cream cheese filling up to a day in advance and keep it refrigerated. Just give it a quick stir before filling the puffs.
Is there a substitute for the puff pastry?
Puff pastry is ideal for this recipe because of its flakiness and rise, but if you prefer, phyllo dough can be used, though the texture will be quite different—lighter and crisper but less puffy.
Can I use fresh salmon instead of smoked salmon?
Smoked salmon adds the signature flavor here, but if you want to use fresh salmon, make sure to cure or lightly smoke it first. Otherwise, the flavor profile of the dish will change significantly.
What if I don’t have everything bagel seasoning?
You can make a simple substitute by combining sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic powder, dried onion flakes, and coarse salt. This blend mimics the iconic everything bagel flavor wonderfully.
Are these cream puffs suitable for a brunch menu?
Definitely! Their small size and fresh flavors make Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe a standout option for brunch buffets or elegant breakfast gatherings.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fun, flavorful way to reinvent the ultimate classic combo of bagel, cream cheese, and smoked salmon, you have to try the Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe. They’re elegant enough for parties but simple enough to whip up for a cozy night in. Trust me, these little flavor bombs will be a total hit and may just become your new go-to crowd-pleaser.
Print
Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 cream puffs
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delightful Everything Bagel Salmon Cream Puffs combine flaky puff pastry shells seasoned with everything bagel seasoning and filled with a zesty cream cheese lemon dill spread topped with luscious smoked salmon and capers. Perfect for elegant appetizers or brunch bites, these puffs deliver a crisp texture with a creamy, tangy filling and savory smoked salmon ribbons.
Ingredients
Puff Pastry and Seasoning
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- Flour (for dusting)
- 2–3 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (plus more for serving)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill sprigs (plus more for serving)
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
Toppings
- 3 ounces smoked salmon (cut into thin slices)
- 2 tablespoons capers (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy cleanup.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: If using refrigerated puff pastry, let it rest for 5 minutes at room temperature to soften slightly. If frozen, let it rest for 30 minutes for easier handling.
- Roll Out Pastry: Lightly dust a cutting board with flour to prevent sticking. Unfold the puff pastry sheet and roll it into a 10- x 12-inch rectangle using a rolling pin for even thickness.
- Cut Pastry Shapes: Cut the rolled pastry into twelve to fifteen 2 ½-inch circles. Using a smaller 1 ½-inch cookie cutter, lightly score a ½-inch border around the edges of each circle to create a frame without cutting all the way through.
- Make Egg Wash: Whisk together the large egg and heavy whipping cream in a small bowl until smooth. This will give the pastry a golden, shiny finish.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the pastry circles on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart. Brush the outer edges of each pastry circle with the egg wash. Sprinkle about ½ teaspoon of everything bagel seasoning on the edges of each puff.
- Bake Pastry: Bake in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and cooked through. Once out of the oven, use the rounded end of a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon to gently press the center of each puff to create a well for the filling.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: While the puffs are baking, combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and fresh dill in a small food processor or blender. Blend for 30-60 seconds until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Fill Pastry Puffs: Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a plastic zip-top bag and snip off one corner. Pipe about 1 tablespoon of filling into the center well of each baked puff pastry shell.
- Add Smoked Salmon: Thinly slice the smoked salmon into ½-inch strips. Loosely fold or ruffle each strip to create ribbon-like shapes, then gently press them into the cream cheese filling so they sit partly around the edges.
- Garnish and Serve: Top each filled puff with a few capers, a small sprig of fresh dill, and additional lemon zest if desired for extra freshness and visual appeal. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- If puff pastry is frozen, be sure to thaw completely for easier rolling and cutting.
- Everything bagel seasoning can be adjusted to taste or substituted with a mix of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, and onion flakes.
- Capers are optional but add a nice briny contrast to the creamy filling and smoked salmon.
- These cream puffs are best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours; reheat briefly in the oven to restore crispiness.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut puff pastry efficiently and reduce tearing.
